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pop bottles as floats?

Old 06-25-2005, 02:04 PM
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electric-mike
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Default pop bottles as floats?

would adding pop bottles to a park flyer work for floats?
i thought i saw a picture of one that had pop bottle floats but now i can't find it.

any comments would help
Old 06-25-2005, 05:36 PM
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jrf
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Default RE: pop bottles as floats?

I saw a large electric "old-timer" on 2 liter soda bottles at Havasu several years ago. The bottles were so draggy that he could barely taxi and ROG was out of the question. He hand launched it, flew it and then landed in the water.

BTW, he used a three float setup with a small bottle at the rear. With no step, there is no way the bottles would work in a two float setup.

Jim
Old 06-25-2005, 06:52 PM
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Default RE: pop bottles as floats?

I've seen a couple fly with pop bottles for floats, as stated before they weren't the greatest but they did work. I saw one in Michigan that did a pretty good job once in the air, I didn't really pay attention to it on takeoff. Sorry I can't help more, at least you know they can work. ENJOY !!!!!! RED
Old 06-25-2005, 09:46 PM
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electric-mike
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Default RE: pop bottles as floats?

what exaxtly does the "step" do to make it better?
Old 06-25-2005, 10:07 PM
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JohnBuckner
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Default RE: pop bottles as floats?

Thank you jrf, That would be my Kerswap a veteran of 9 Lake Havasu's and and 4 other float flys. Its not an electric though always had an OS 20.

John[8D]

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Old 06-25-2005, 10:08 PM
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seaplane
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Default RE: pop bottles as floats?

Everything behind the step is up out of the water at takeoff speed which reduces a lot of drag......Seaplane
Old 06-26-2005, 11:20 AM
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Default RE: pop bottles as floats?

And puts the main point of contact with the water at take-off speeds slightly in front of the CG so that the airplane can rotate for take-off. Notice that the main bottles on John Bruckner's Kerswap are located so that the rear of the bottles is either in front of, or under the CG. The back of the bottles acts as the step, but with no floatation behind the CG, the third bottle is necessary to keep the tail out of the water.

Jim

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